Beet-digger.



R. NELSON.

BEET BIGGER.

APPLICATION FlLED NOV. 29 1916. Lw fiww Patented Nov. 2?, 191?,

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

iii a 4;

WW humus R. NELSON.

BEET BIGGER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. I916.

Patented Nov 27, 191'? 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 MMLMN R. NELSON.

BEET BIGGER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. l9l6.

ll fiww Patented. Nam 2?, 191?.

" 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Ewan Laws W ROBERT NELSON, OF I-IILLROSE, COLORADO.

FEET-BIGGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2'7, 121% Application filed November 29, 1916. Serial No. 134,102.

To all whom it may camera:

'Be it known that 1, ROBERT NnLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hillrose, in the county of Morgan, State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Beet- Digger; and ll do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved beet digger, and the aim of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind involving improved features of construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to be manually adjusted for digging or excavating the beets from the ground.

It is a known fact that beets grow in irregular or undulated rows, hence, with the machines now in use, it has been found diflicult to remove practically all of the beets traveling once over the row.

Therefore, a further aim of this invention is to provide a frame supported upon a pair of swiveled wheels in the rear and a pair of dirigible wheels in the front, which dirigible wheels are so guidable by foot power that the machine may follow an undulated course, in accordance with the irregularities in each row of beets, whereby substantially all the beets may be removed from the row by passing once thereover.

. In practical fields, the details of construction may necessitate alterations falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved beet digger constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation of said machine.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on line H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the two digger members or shoes.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on line .66 of Fig. 5..

Referring more especially to the drawmgs, 1 jdesignates a suitable rectangular frame consisting of the side bars 2, the rear transverse bar 3 and the brace bar 4, which is located near the forward end of said frame. A rod 5 extends transversely of the forward extremities of the sides 2 of the said frame, and pivoted upon the said rod is the usual tongue or pole 6, to which the hound bars 7 are secured by the bolts 8. The rear ends of the hound bars are pivoted upon the extremities of said rod 5, there being nuts 9 to prevent disconnection. Secured to the under portions of the forward parts of the sides 2 of the said frame by means of the bolts 10 is a transverse bar or plate 11, in the extremities of which the axle rods 12 are vertically mounted, to rock or swivel. These axle rods 12 have integral collars 13 near their lower portions, on which the bar or transverse piece 11 rests. The vertical axle rods 12 at their lower portions beyond the collars 13 terminate in lateral stub axles 14, on which the forward supporting wheels 15 are journaled. Fixed by pins 16 to the upper ends of the axle rods 12 are rearwardly extending arms 17 which are connected at their rear ends by the bar 18. Pivotally mounted on a bolt 19 of the brace bar 4 is a steering footbar 20, there being a spacing block 21 between the footbar 20 and the brace bar 4. Extending centrally from the footbar 20 forwardly is an arm 22, which is provided with a slot 28, through which and the connecting bar 18 a pivot bolt 24 extends. By virtue of the elongated slot 23, a freedom of movement of the arm 22 relative to the pivot bolt 24 is insured, that is, when shifting the connecting bar 18 toward the right or the left, to steer the front supporting wheels.

Extending transversely of the frame 1, near its center, is a rod 25 on which an auxiliary loop frame 26 is pivotally mounted. The side arms 27 of said loop frame are braced or reinforced by the transverse bar 28. The auxiliary frame 26 is arranged on an inclination, therefore, the side arms 27 of said frame converge forwardly and clownwardly, and converge toward each other and taper in order to partially yield with relation to each other at their lower ends. Digger members or shoes 29 are provided, and

rising upwardly therefrom are enlargements the auxiliary frame 26 at its forward pertion may be tilted upwardly or downwardly, hence altering the depth of said digger members or shoes. In plan view, said digger members or shoes from their rear parts diverge outwardly, and have their forward extremities curved outwardly, so that as the digger members pass through the soil, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the beets will pass between said digger members, and hence be removed from the ground. Upon referring to Figs. 5 and 6, it is to be noted that the curved forward portions of said digger members or shoes are diamond shaped in cross section, or substantially rectangular in cross section, in order to avoid cutting or otherwise injuring the beet, as would otherwise occur, should said digger members or shoes at their forward ends be flat and have sharp cutting edges. Chains 33 are connected to the arms 27 and are in turn adjustably connected at 34 to the sides 2 of said frame 1, so that when the auxiliary frame is adjusted on the desired slant, the chains will act, to take care of the strain on the arms 27 as the digger members or shoes pass through the soil. Rising upwardly or carried by one of the sides 2 of the frame 1 is a toothed segment 35, and projecting rearwardly and upwardly from one side portion of the rear upper part of said frame 26 is an arm 36 having ahandle 37 for tilting the auxiliary frame. A spring tensioned dog 38 is carried by one side of the auxiliary frame, and is designed to cooperate with the teeth of the segment 35, in order to hold the auxiliary frame in different adjusted positions. A hand grip 39 is pivotally carried by the arm 36 and has a rod 40, which is in turn con nected to the dog, whereby the same may be manipulated to engage and disengage said teeth of said segment. Secured to the rear transverse bar 3 of the frame 1 by means of cal parts 45 of the forks 46 are swiveled.

Collars 47 are carried by the vertical parts 45 to be engaged by the brackets 44, whereas washers and nuts 48 and 49 are carried by the upper ends of the vertical parts 45 to prevent their downward displacements. The

forks 46 have journaled therein rear sup porting wheels 50, and the forks 46 extend rearwardly and downwardly, so that said wheels may follow the course of the machine.

The spacing block or member 21 is provided with a depression or recess 51 to be engaged by a bolt 52 (which passes through the arm 22, to hold the foot steering bar 20 rigid and against movement).

However, when the bolt 52 is removed,

-it -will be seen that the operator, by placing 7 his feet upon the opposite ends of the oscillating steering bar 20, may turn the wheels 15 quickly in one direction or the other, so that the beets may pass between the digger members or shoes, whether in straight 'or irregular rows. In other words, the machme may be made to travel in undulated course corresponding to the irregularlti'es of the rows of beets.

The invention having'been setforth, what is claimed as new and useful, 1s:

1. In a beet digger, the combination of a main frame and forward and rear supporting wheels therefor, an auxiliary loop frame to be adjusted upon different forwardly and downwardly inclined positions and having converging arms, a pair of digger members having pockets in which the lower extremities of said arms are secured, whereby the digger members are held at acute angles to said arms,and means for holding said auxiliary frame indifferent tion and having converging forwardly and downwardly extending arms, digger members diverging outwardly and arranged at acute angles to said arms and having their end portions curved outwardly and substantially diamond shaped in crosssection. v v I 3. In a beet digger, a frame, supporting wheels therefor, a loop frame pivoted on the first frame between the sides thereof, said loop frame having side barsinclined forwardly and downwardly and converging toward each other and having their. extremities providedwith digger membersextending forwardly and inclined slightly clownwardly, anddisposed at acute angles to said side bars. v

4. In a beet digger, a main frame, supporting wheels therefor, 'an auxiliary loop frame pivoted on the main frame between the sides thereof, a segment gear on the main frame, said loop frame comprising side bars inclining forwardly and downwardly and converging toward each other and tapering in order to partially yield, a transverse bar connecting and bracing the side bars of the loop frame, digger members extending forwardly and slightly 'downwardly and diverging forwardly and outwardly, said digger members having upwardly and rearwardly extending-pockets. in which the lower extremities ofthe side bars of the loop frame are secured, whereby the digger members are held at acute angles In testimony whereof I have signed my to the sides of the loop frame, and a lever name to this specification in the presence of carried by the loop frame, and provided two subscribing Witnesses.

with means to cooperate with the segment ROBERT NELSON. gear to hold the loop frame in different ad- Witnesses:

Justed positions, whereby the angles of the J. Ross SEYBOLD,

digger members may be varied. CLAIRE W. CURTIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

